morganm12
George
I have had an ongoing water leak for 2yrs which occurs randomly. Because it appeared to be so small in nature I never considered it a major issue and thought it to be connected to a leak found in the water access located in the basement. The leak in the basement was corrected but the nagging leak in the underbelly kept showing occassionally.
Because this leak was documented more than once prior to the warranty expiration Heartland agreed to cover the work, which I appreciated. I was never in a location close to my dealer (Camperland RV Sales and Service, Conroe, Tx.) when I noticed the little drip drip drip until a few weeks ago. I was within a couple hours drive from my dealer so I called and was asked to bring it in right away which I did. The insulation was removed from the underbelly and found to be saturated with water. The insulation was literally reduced to a pancake batter thickness and so soaked that the techs had to scrape it off the bottom cover and haul it off with a shovel.
A minimal effort was made to locate the source of the water while the belly and holding tanks were exposed. Graywater holding tank # 2 was partially filled and observed briefly. Stan (the owner of Camperland), decided the water was coming through the exhaust port for the hotwater heater when raining. To test his theory he got a soda can filled with water and poured it into the base area of the hotwater heater access and because the bottom wasn't sealed the water seeped out and down the inside wall of the trailer skin and made its way into the belly causing the perceived leak. The bottom of the hotwater heater access was sealed, insulation replaced and we were sent on our way.
In about two weeks (we are fulltimers) the leak showed again. It had not rained for several days. We drained all the holding tanks and waited for the dripping to stop. Being made aware Camperland was not going to search for the source of the leak, I decided to try to find it on my own. I closed holding tank #2 (shower), turned the water on in the shower and vanity basin, filled the tank till it covered the shower floor. WE WAITED. Three to four hours later the "Monster" reappeared. At this point I called Camperland and told them that I had pin pointed the source of the water and wanted to add this to the fix it list, I was already scheduled for another problem. It was at this point that my patience started being tested. After explaining how I arrived at my finding that the #2 tank was the source of the water leak he stated that you can't over fill the holding tanks or they will leak and it can't be fixed indicating that he was not willing to try anymore.
My next call was to Heartland where I was referred to Steve who only echoed Stans assessment of my problem. After a bit of putting up with my discontent he agreed to repairs if it was found to be the tank or a flange, which I could live with. I relayed this to Stan and he still refused to try and fix the leak stating that Heartland did not allow him enough time on the last attempt to fix said leak costing him money for his techs time. I had recently paid him a $100 on an earlier appointment to locate the leak and nothing was found. I told his service writer to tell Heartland that I would bring it back to Elkheart if needed. My question now is, has anyone else had this type of water leak?
Steve told me that he worked for Holiday Rambler and they had the same problem. I owned a 2002 Montana and my wife overfilled the shower tank up into the bottom frequently and it never leaked in 5 years so its hard for me to accept that this is an industry wide problem. With the exception of the above mentioned test to locate the leak, we have not overfilled tank # 2 in this Grand Canyon more than twice in the two years we've been in it.
I categorically state here and now that I don't think the leak is occurrring from overfilling my tank. This is a gravity fed system and not subjected to any kind of pressure from a pump or heat expansion. A simple seal and collar nut like one can find under your kitchen sink at the p-trap would prevent this leak if thats where my leak is occurring. Stan showed me a seal like the ones used and I can't see where this would leak if installed correctly, ie; don't trap saw dust, metal filings, or other foriegn matter under the seal.
In my management training we were taught if you expect or accept mediocrity then thats what you will get. At this time I would be hard pressed to recommend Camperland RV Sales and Service or Heartland products.
Because this leak was documented more than once prior to the warranty expiration Heartland agreed to cover the work, which I appreciated. I was never in a location close to my dealer (Camperland RV Sales and Service, Conroe, Tx.) when I noticed the little drip drip drip until a few weeks ago. I was within a couple hours drive from my dealer so I called and was asked to bring it in right away which I did. The insulation was removed from the underbelly and found to be saturated with water. The insulation was literally reduced to a pancake batter thickness and so soaked that the techs had to scrape it off the bottom cover and haul it off with a shovel.
A minimal effort was made to locate the source of the water while the belly and holding tanks were exposed. Graywater holding tank # 2 was partially filled and observed briefly. Stan (the owner of Camperland), decided the water was coming through the exhaust port for the hotwater heater when raining. To test his theory he got a soda can filled with water and poured it into the base area of the hotwater heater access and because the bottom wasn't sealed the water seeped out and down the inside wall of the trailer skin and made its way into the belly causing the perceived leak. The bottom of the hotwater heater access was sealed, insulation replaced and we were sent on our way.
In about two weeks (we are fulltimers) the leak showed again. It had not rained for several days. We drained all the holding tanks and waited for the dripping to stop. Being made aware Camperland was not going to search for the source of the leak, I decided to try to find it on my own. I closed holding tank #2 (shower), turned the water on in the shower and vanity basin, filled the tank till it covered the shower floor. WE WAITED. Three to four hours later the "Monster" reappeared. At this point I called Camperland and told them that I had pin pointed the source of the water and wanted to add this to the fix it list, I was already scheduled for another problem. It was at this point that my patience started being tested. After explaining how I arrived at my finding that the #2 tank was the source of the water leak he stated that you can't over fill the holding tanks or they will leak and it can't be fixed indicating that he was not willing to try anymore.
My next call was to Heartland where I was referred to Steve who only echoed Stans assessment of my problem. After a bit of putting up with my discontent he agreed to repairs if it was found to be the tank or a flange, which I could live with. I relayed this to Stan and he still refused to try and fix the leak stating that Heartland did not allow him enough time on the last attempt to fix said leak costing him money for his techs time. I had recently paid him a $100 on an earlier appointment to locate the leak and nothing was found. I told his service writer to tell Heartland that I would bring it back to Elkheart if needed. My question now is, has anyone else had this type of water leak?
Steve told me that he worked for Holiday Rambler and they had the same problem. I owned a 2002 Montana and my wife overfilled the shower tank up into the bottom frequently and it never leaked in 5 years so its hard for me to accept that this is an industry wide problem. With the exception of the above mentioned test to locate the leak, we have not overfilled tank # 2 in this Grand Canyon more than twice in the two years we've been in it.
I categorically state here and now that I don't think the leak is occurrring from overfilling my tank. This is a gravity fed system and not subjected to any kind of pressure from a pump or heat expansion. A simple seal and collar nut like one can find under your kitchen sink at the p-trap would prevent this leak if thats where my leak is occurring. Stan showed me a seal like the ones used and I can't see where this would leak if installed correctly, ie; don't trap saw dust, metal filings, or other foriegn matter under the seal.
In my management training we were taught if you expect or accept mediocrity then thats what you will get. At this time I would be hard pressed to recommend Camperland RV Sales and Service or Heartland products.
Last edited:
